Protesters form ‘human wall’ in stand-off with police
Prominent activist Phanuphong Jadnok led protesters in forming a “human wall” as a rally kicked off in Bangkok at 4pm on Thursday.
The Free Youth protest group’s Facebook page reported that protesters began gathering at Ratchaprasong Intersection from 3pm, in response to a call by the pro-democracy Khana Ratsadon 2563 (People’s Party 2020) movement.
The call was made on Thursday morning after the protesters’ camp at Government House was cleared overnight by police in response to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha imposing a state of emergency banning all gatherings in the city.
Authorities have also arrested the protest movement’s leaders, including Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, Anon Nampa, Prasit Utharoj, and Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul.
About 450 police tried to block protesters from entering the Ratchaprasong area, as an estimated 4,000 sought to join the rally. Demonstrators chanted “get out” and “release our friends” as protest leaders tried to negotiate with the police.
The student-led protesters are demanding that the government resign, Parliament be dissolved and the junta-drafted Constitution be rewritten.